Estimation of second order rate constants using chemometric methods with kinetic constraints

Several methods are described for determining rate constants for second order reactions of the form U + V --> W using chemometrics and hard modelling to analyse UV absorption spectroscopic data, where all species absorb with comparable concentrations and extinctions. An interesting feature of this type of reaction is that the number of steps in the reaction is less than the number of absorbing species, resulting in a rank-deficient response matrix. This can cause problems when using some of the methods described in the literature. The approaches discussed in the paper depend, in part, on what knowledge is available about the system, including the spectra of the reactants and product, the initial concentrations and the exact kinetics. Sometimes some of this information may not be available or may be hard to estimate. Five groups of methods are discussed, namely use of multiple linear regression to obtain concentration profiles and fit kinetics information, rank augmentation using multiple batch runs, difference spectra based approaches, mixed spectral approaches which treat the reaction as two independent pseudospecies, and principal components regression. Two datasets are simulated, one where the spectra are quite different and the other where the spectrum of one reactant and the product share a high degree of overlap. Three sources of error are considered, namely sampling error, instrumental noise and errors in initial concentrations. The relative merits of each method are discussed.     

Synthesis and characterization of platinum(II) and (IV) complexes containing hexamethyleneimine ligand: crystal structure of [Pt(hexamethyleneimine)2(cyclobutanedicarboxylato)]·H2O

A series of new platinum(II) and platinum(IV) complexes of the type [Pt^II(HMI)₂X] (where HMI=hexamethyleneimine, X=dichloro, sulfato, 1,1-cyclobutanedicarboxylato [CBDCA], oxalato, methylmalonato, or tatronato) and [Pt^IV(HMI)₂Y₂Cl₂] (where Y=hydroxo, acetato, or chloro) were synthesized and characterized by infrared (IR) spectroscopy, ¹³C and ¹⁹⁵Pt nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Among the complexes synthesized, [Pt^II(hexamethyleneimine)₂(1,1-cyclobutanedicarboxylato)]·H₂O was examined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The slightly distorted square planar coordination environment of the platinum metal includes the amino group of the hexamethyleneimine (HMI) molecule and the oxygen atoms of the carboxylato ligand. The cyclobutanedicarboxylic acid (CBDCA) molecule adopts six-member chelating rings with platinum. Hydrogen bonding plays an important part in holding the crystal lattice together.     

Immobilizing a Fluorescent Dye Offers Potential to Investigate the Glass/Resin Interface

Silane coupling agents are commonly applied to glass fibers to promote fiber/resin adhesion and enhance durability in composite parts. In this study, a coupling agent multilayer on glass was doped with trace levels of the dimethylaminonitrostilbene (DMANS) fluorophore. The fluorophore was immobilized on the glass surface by tethering the molecule to a triethoxy silane coupling agent, creating the DMANS/silane coupling agent molecule (DMSCA). DMSCA was then diluted with commonly used coupling agents and grafted to a glass microscope coverslip to create a model composite interface. A 53-nm blue shift in fluorescence from the immobilized DMSCA can be followed during cure of an epoxy resin overlayer, giving this technique potential to monitor the properties of the fiber/resin interface during composite processing. Contact angle measurements on these coupling agent layers were similar in the presence or absence of the DMSCA molecule, suggesting that trace levels of the fluorescent probe did not affect the structure of the layer. The immobilized DMSCA molecule behaved similarly to the DMANS precursor in solution. Both showed longer wavelength fluorescence in more polar environments. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

(Z)-3-p-tolylsulfinylacrylonitrile as a chiral dienophile: diels-alder reactions with furan and acyclic dienes

The behavior of (Z)-3-p-tolylsulfinylacrylonitrile (1) as a chiral dienophile has been evaluated from its reactions with furan and acyclic dienes. Electrostatic interactions of the cyano group with the sulfinyl one restrict the conformational mobility around the C-S bond, thus controlling the pi-facial selectivity, which is almost complete in all cases, the approach of the diene from the less-hindered face of the dienophile (that bearing the lone electron pair) in the predominant rotamer being the favored one. The regioselectivity is also completely controlled by the cyano group. Additionally, the reactivity of compound 1 as well as its endo-selectivity are both higher than those observed for the corresponding (Z)-3-sulfinylacrylates, thus proving the potential of sulfinylnitriles as chiral dienophiles.